While it was a day of festivities, there was also room to raise awareness on issues plaguing First Nations communities.

The publisher of a community-based paper, Mervin Brass, launched Treaty 4 News during the celebrations.

“We want to go into the heart of the First Nations communities,” he explained. “People need to know that the First Nations people are not just a bunch of stereotypes, that, in fact, there are a lot of good things happening in the communities.”

Organizer Dickie Yuzicapi said while there are challenges, June 21st is meant to recognize the successes.

“This is the day that we share our culture. We tell stories, we show our outfits, our dances. We just share our culture with everybody, of all walks of life.”

National Aboriginal Day was first officially celebrated in Canada in 1996.